Zero G's~

Since our forecast is one of temperatures warming into the 90's by weeks end, mid-80's would have to do.  The air is full of what I think is the dust from all the gravel roads.  This has been about the longest period this summer that we've not had rain.

Carrying a mouthful~

It was nice to pull into Waubonsie & have everything quiet.  Everything except the bugs!  They were out in full force.  Small flies - that were at the stable too, big horse fly's, something that did a lot of buzzing...  Even with spray slathered on us both - we were both bitten more than once.

My Stonewall~

My Stonewall is finally broken in.  It's been almost two-years now & we've had no issues with it - which is a saddle blessing that was a long time coming.  I still wish the seat were a little deeper & the twist a little narrower.  Jackie has reminded me that Farah is not a small bodied mare & requires a medium tree.

Honeysuckle~

Someone was full of energy today - a surprise with the heat.  She attacked the first of the hills with a vengeance.  I'm still not sure just how she accomplished it, but one minute I was in the saddle & the next I was in the air.  Both feet came up in the stirrups, my seat left the saddle & for a long instant I was suspended.  A millisecond later - I reconnected with the saddle - as we crested the top.

Beautiful trails~

It's so nice to have a place to ride that seems so changeable & where almost all the trails are totally in the shade of the deciduous timber.  We weren't out too far when I heard a huge rustle of feather & Farah went sideways.  A turkey had flown up just a foot or two off the trail!  He perched about 40 feet up in a tree as we went by.  The first I've seen here.

Vine on the hitching rail post~

It's been fun too, to play games.  Once the stats are downloaded, it's interesting comparing our time from one ride to the next - doing an identical pattern - or changing it up.

White blooming Nettles?

I'm pretty sure that these plants are Stinging Nettles, or their cousins.  The white blooms on both sides of the trail were beautiful - even if they're not flowers in the true sense of the word.

Ah  Shade~

The photo above is of one of Farah's favorite places to take a break.  Mine too, as it's up on a ridge & there's usually a little breeze that keeps the bugs away.

Young Coyote~

As we turned out on our final loop, I saw something up ahead on the trail.  I got out the camera & got one shot of this young Coyote before he turned into the brush.  He was looking a little skinny - so hope he found a rodent or two for his dinner.

After her bath~

Farah really enjoys her baths on hot days - our new hose & nozzle works great & gets the job done much faster than a sponge.  She gets just enough time to dry - before the bugs find her again & the spray goes back on.

We headed for home & pulled in to wait for Butch.  Farah loves grazing in the yard & walks away when Butch goes to gather her up for the trip back to the stable.  Nika was even OK with it & had the gumption to circle Farah at a run!  :-)  She'd still like to herd her - but is smart enough to know better.

My Red Geranium's & Farah~

My germaniums have done well this summer - they grow much bushier than they did in Washington, but have about the same amount of blooms.  It wont' be long before I have to get them back into pots for the long months of the winter season.  

A Tint of Green!

After church, we drove to Council Bluffs & bought a new door for the back of the house - one with a screened window that opens.  Next, we stopped to check on Farah, who was enjoying the 80+ degree day.

 Now, I'll know - if we have what is being called a mild Winter, then the first flush of green here at home will happen St. Patrick's weekend.  (27-years this weekend since we moved to the Homestead in WA.)  Little did we imagine then - that all these years later - we'd be working to clear along another creek in Iowa!

South side of our back fence, cut vines on the right~

This little fox was the first piece of yard art I bought for the Homestead & the only larger piece we brought with us.  He'd sat out on the hill along the creek, then later up in the woods.  I thought it fitting he find a new home along Tinkle Branch :-)  He'll be groomed with a new coat of paint this year!

Clearing!

Butch started in, cutting through all the tall grass & weeds, behind our south fence & to the west on the property we're purchasing.  Once that was done - I took my pruners & starting cutting all of the horrible, nasty vine Greenbriar that had grown into the trees & shrubs.

Greenbriar stem & creek in the background~

I just thought Blackberry was bad... Let me tell you - it can't hold a candle to this stuff.  So sharp that my work gloves were shredded by the time I was done.

Vine in the middle of the frame~

 With vines going well over twenty feet up into the trees.  I had to pull, tug & even wrapped some around other trees, to gain enough purchase to pull them down.  I could almost hear the trees sigh with relief.  I also found what looked to be grape vines?  They had wrapped themselves around the trunks of the trees all the way to the top.  I almost think some type of Ivy - but time will tell - unless I can get it fully killed before it leaf's out.

The "piles"

The piles don't look very impressive, but you wouldn't want to try to walk through here!  Next, I'll have it all to cut into pieces & haul to the fire to burn. 

Black Austrian Pine~

We planted our second tree, a Black Austrian Pine - up near the top of the hill.  It gets huge, is hearty to 40 below, deer resistant & can live 500 years!

A very warm day!

 Tired & dirty, we sat out with cold drinks, watching the sun set behind the trees.   Six-months here now & so appreciative of the friends we've met & community that's welcomed us~

Plattsmouth, NE

 A sunshine beauty of a weekend for our birthday's!  We love the Classic Cafe in Malvern - it's our usual spot for a late Sunday breakfast. We wanted to do some more exploring, so we turned toward another historic town, Plattsmouth, NE.

Heading over the PlattsmouthToll Bridge~

 To get there, the most direct way - you take the toll bridge - built in 1929.  It is a real beauty - with it's cantilevered truss style construction.  The sides aren't high & the drop down looks like a long way...

Looking over at the Train Trestle~

 A toll has been in place since the bridge was built.  The $1.50 expense is more than worth the trip over to the NE side of the river.  Now, the funds collected go to maintain the structure.  Even though it's the shortest way to get there from Glenwood, most of the traffic now goes further north & over the new bridge on Hwy 34.  Once across, you enter the town in less than a mile.  I didn't take any photos of the town itself, but we walked the main street, which was quiet.  As we passed Rohan Photography, Dan came out & invited us into his shop!  He had a beautiful book of photos from his trip to Washington State!  We ended up spending quite a while swapping stories & admiring his amazing photographs!

Next, we drove out to the Shilling Wildlife Management Area - just at the end of the town's main street.  The sun was getting low in the sky - perfect for taking a few photos - even with my smartphone.

Greenbriar gone wild~

 I've been researching the invasive species in Iowa & still think I've identified this plant correctly.  To see how destructive it is once it gains a foothold is downright scary!  As damaging as Blackberry is to Washington state & without the yummy berries!

Thorny too!

 Just the small needle sharp thorns make it difficult to walk through - the vines are so small & tough that they tangle your feet at every step.

Huge Tree!

 Some of the trees are huge - so beautiful to see - yet there are almost as many that are dead & bleached white.  I've been told that the big flood of 2008 drowned the root systems.

Where the Platte River joins the Missouri~

Here, the Platte River almost looks to be wider & bigger than the Missouri. What fun to stand where Lewis & Clark camped on their way to the west coast!  We've also visited Fort Clatsop, at the western end of their great trek! 

History on the banks of the river~

 As we watched the two rivers flow by - we heard the unmistakable sound of ducks!  Lots of quacking ducks!  Looking up - huge flocks were flying overhead!  Wave after wave of them - across the deep blue of the late afternoon sky...

Ducks flying over~

Magical~

Sunset~

It doesn't take long once the sun goes down, for the temperature to drop.  We had to remind ourselves that it was February after all!  A very far away place from where we've spent our birthday weekend for the past several years on Whidbey Island!